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Abstract:

A multimedia device includes a display device, a storage device, an
orientation sensor and a processing unit. The storage device has a
plurality of programs, and each of which is capable of rendering of an
operation interface on the display device. The orientation sensor is
capable of detecting the disposed orientation of the display device and
sending an orientation signal. The processing unit electrically connected
to the display device, the storage device and the orientation sensor. The
operation interface shown on the display device is determined by the
processing unit in accordance with the orientation signal emitted from
the orientation sensor.

Claims:

1. A multimedia device, including:a display device;a storage device having
a plurality of programs, each of which is capable of rendering of an
operation interface on the display device;an orientation sensor being
capable of detecting the disposed orientation of the display device and
sending an orientation signal accordingly;a processing unit electrically
connected to the display device, the storage device and the orientation
sensor;the operation interface shown on the display device being
determined by the processing unit in accordance with the orientation
signal emitted from the orientation sensor.

2. The multimedia device of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor is an
accelerometer.

3. The multimedia device of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor is a
gyroscope.

4. The multimedia device of claim 1, wherein the display device may set at
least one predetermined disposed orientation so as to switch the
operation interface corresponding to the predetermined disposed
orientation.

5. The multimedia device of claim 1, wherein the operation interface may
be set according to each predetermined disposed orientation of the
display device.

6. The multimedia device of claim 1, wherein the operation interface shown
on the display device may be locked.

7. The multimedia device of claim 1, further including a plurality of
buttons for operating the operation interface.

8. The multimedia device of claim 1, wherein the display device is a touch
panel.

9. The multimedia device of claim 1, wherein the operation interface is
selected from the group consisting of an MP3 player program interface, a
GPS program interface, a PDA phone interface, and an image displaying
program interface.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]The present invention relates to a multimedia device, and, more
particularly, to a multimedia device which allows users to switch program
interfaces conveniently without having to push buttons.

[0003]2. Description of the Related Art

[0004]With the developments in technology, many electronic devices offer
significantly more convenience and practicability for users, such as a
mobile phone for communication, a GPS device for tracking vehicle, an MP3
player or a media player for entertainment. Because these products have
different kinds of functions, users have to buy many products in order to
satisfy different needs; however, it is very inconvenient to carry all
kinds of the products and connectors in travel. Accordingly, more and
more manufacturers offer multifunctional devices to meet users' needs.

[0005]Since multifunctional devices provide more than one function, users
have to switch between different functions when they want to use a
specific function. In general, users switch a function by pressing
buttons to enter a system menu and select the function they want. Because
users will always need to press buttons repeatedly before selecting a
specific function, devices with too many functions inevitably impose much
trouble on users, largely decreasing their willingness to buy or even use
these kinds of devices.

[0006]It is therefore desirable to provide a multimedia device to mitigate
and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007]A main object of the present invention is to provide a multimedia
device, and, more particularly, to provide a multimedia device for a user
to switch program interfaces more conveniently.

[0008]In order to achieve the object, the multimedia device includes a
display device, a storage device, an orientation sensor and a processing
unit. The storage device has a plurality of programs, and each of which
is capable of rendering of an operation interface on the display device.
The orientation sensor is capable of detecting the disposed orientation
of the display device and sending an orientation signal. The processing
unit electrically connected to the display device, the storage device and
the orientation sensor. The operation interface shown on the display
device is determined by the processing unit in accordance with the
orientation signal emitted from the orientation sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram corresponding to the multimedia device of
the present invention.

[0010]FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate the statuses of the present invention
under operation.

[0011]FIG. 3 illustrates another status of the present invention under
operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012]Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block drawing showing the
relationship among different components of the present invention. A
multimedia device 1 includes a display device 10, a storage device 20, an
orientation sensor 30 and a processing unit 40. The storage device 20 has
a plurality of programs 21, and each of which is capable of rendering of
an operation interface 22 on the display device 10. The orientation
sensor 30 is capable of detecting the disposed orientation of the display
device 10 and sending an orientation signal. The processing unit 40
electrically connected to the display device 10, the storage device 20
and the orientation sensor 30. The operation interface 22 shown on the
display device 10 is determined by the processing unit 40 in accordance
with the orientation signal emitted from the orientation sensor 30. In
this embodiment, the orientation sensor 30 is an accelerometer or
gyroscopes.

[0013]Please refer to FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b). FIGS. 2(a) and (b) shows
the status of the present invention under operation. In the figures, the
operation interface 22 shown on the display device 10 at an initial
disposed orientation P0 of the multimedia device 1 is an initial
operation interface S0. When the multimedia device 1 rotates clockwise,
the orientation sensor 30 is capable of detecting the change of the
disposed orientation of the display device 10 and sending an orientation
signal, and the processing unit 40 may receive the orientation signal and
compare it with its initial state. When the multimedia device 1 rotates
to the first predetermined disposed orientation P1, the processing unit
40 may then compare the orientation signal emitted from the orientation
sensor 30 with its initial state and switch to the first operation
interface S1 corresponding to the first predetermined disposed
orientation P1 in accordance with the orientation signal. For example, if
the initial operation interface S0 is an MP3 player program interface and
the first operation interface S1 is a GPS program interface, when the
user wants to switch the MP3 player program interface to the GPS program
interface, he needs only to rotate the multimedia device 1 clockwise from
initial disposed orientation P0 to the first predetermined disposed
orientation P1 without pressing any button. Conversely, when the user
wants to switch the GPS program interface to the MP3 player program
interface, he needs only to rotate multimedia device 1 anticlockwise from
the first predetermined disposed orientation P1 to initial disposed
orientation P0.

[0014]Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows another status of the present
invention under operation. The multimedia device 1 may be set at least
one predetermined disposed orientation so as to switch the operation
interface 22 corresponding to the predetermined disposed orientation. The
multimedia device 1 may be set to each predetermined disposed orientation
to switch the operation interface 22 in accordance with the number of the
programs 21 or the requests of users. In this embodiment, the multimedia
device 1 has four kinds of programs 21. Because a complete circle of the
multimedia device 1 is around 360°, each predetermined disposed
orientation will be set substantially an integer multiple of 90°
corresponding to switching each the operation interface 22 of the program
21. In other words, the operation interface 22 is switched when the
angular variation of the disposed orientation of the display device 10
approaches substantially 90° every time. When the multimedia
device 1 is at the initial disposed orientation P0, the operation
interface 22 shown on the display device 10 is the initial operation
interface S0; when the multimedia device 1 rotates to the first
predetermined disposed orientation P1, the operation interface 22 shown
on the display device 10 is switched to the first operation interface S1;
when the multimedia device 1 rotates to the second predetermined disposed
orientation P2, the operation interface 22 shown on the display device 10
is switched to the second operation interface S2; when the multimedia
device 1 rotates to the third predetermined disposed orientation P3, the
operation interface 22 shown on the display device 10 is switched to the
third operation interface S3; in addition, when the multimedia device 1
rotates to the initial disposed orientation P0, the operation interface
22 shown on the display device 10 is switched to the initial operation
interface S0 again. The display device 10 at the different disposed
orientation may show the different operation interface 22.

[0015]Furthermore, the operation interface 22 may be set according to each
predetermined disposed orientation of the display device 10. Each
operation interface 22 corresponding to the predetermined disposed
orientation may be changed. In other words, the user may change each
operation interface 22 corresponding to the predetermined disposed
orientation in accordance with individual preference or practicality of
programs. In this embodiment, each operation interface 22 corresponding
to the predetermined disposed orientation is selected from the group
consisting of an MP3 player program interface, a GPS program interface, a
PDA phone interface, and an image display program interface.

[0016]The multimedia device 1 further includes a plurality of buttons 50
for controlling the operation interface 22 or select menu commands. The
user may also switch the operation interface 22 by buttons 50 when the
operation interface 22 cannot be switched by detecting the change of the
disposed orientation of the display device 10. The operation interface 22
may be operated not only by buttons 50 but also by a touch panel;
however, the present invention is not confined to these devices.
Furthermore, the operation interface 22 shown on the display device 10
may be locked. When the user switched the objective operation interface
22, the operation interface 22 shown on the display device 10 may be
locked by pushing the button 50. At this time, the processing unit 40 may
stop comparing the orientation signal emitted from the orientation sensor
30, and the operation interface 22 will not be changed. It may avoid that
the operation interface 22 in use is switched if the user changes the
disposed orientation of the multimedia device 1 carelessly.

[0017]Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible
modifications and variations can be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.